Interview: Nino Vaccarella

Nino Vaccarella won the Targa Florio three times, and for this alone he remains a Sicilian national hero. His name became virtually synonymous with that great road race throughout the 1960s and 1970s, as evidenced by the large painted messages appearing on the roads and walls on the eve of the event proclaiming, “Viva Nino.”

In addition to his Targa Florio wins, Vaccarella also scored a famous victory at Le Mans in 1964, sharing a works Ferrari 275P with Frenchman Jean Guichet. Additionally, he won at Sebring in 1970 in a 512S codriving with Ignazio Giunti and Mario Andretti in that narrow victory over Steve McQueen’s Porsche 908. Vaccarella amassed a very high rate of finishes in long distance races. Though known primarily for these superb sports car drives, he also took part in a number of nonchampionship F1 races, as well as four Grand Prix events.